Equine Photography - Session Preparation Tips

Tips for your Equine Photo Session Preparation

You booked an equine photo session – it’s exciting! For me as much as for you by the way. Every client I get the opportunity to work with is different and unique. Personalities, locations and expectations differ and make every appointment a new experience for me. I love to capture emotions and personalities, which is why I seek to have my sessions all about “being at ease”, having fun and letting your and your horses personalities come out. As I prepare for every photo shoot by figuring out what equipment I need, cleaning and checking my gear etc., the following equine photo session preparation tips can help you get ready too, to make the session as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.

The location:

If you have a certain location on your property for a scenic background in mind, make sure to remove any obstacles and distracting objects if possible (like buckets, wheelbarrows, tires etc.) Also, you want to make your horse familiar with this area if it hasn’t been there before.

The horse:

Unless you want a “mustang-in-the-wild” like image, a well groomed horse can make a huge difference in your photo. Bathing is not always necessary but stains and yellowing on white markings/fur should be cleaned thoroughly. Clean eyes and noses save a lot of time and possible issues in editing as well as detangled manes and tails. During fly season: apply fly spray generous shortly before the session and keep it handy for applications during the shoot.

The tack:

If you want photos of your horse with tack or while riding don’t forget to check your riding gear and give it a wipe if needed. While it is possible to remove a little stain here or there in post-processing, an overall dusty saddle or bridle can not be edited to look clean and shiny. When choosing your tack avoid bright or primary colors (halters, reins, saddle pads) as those will distract and can easily become the main focus in the final image. If you want the halter digitally removed in your photos, a thin rope halter works best.

The people:

Select outfits that do not compete with the color of your horse and tack, same tones make beautiful harmonic images. Here too you want to avoid bold colors that overpower the picture. If you use make-up you would want to keep it light unless it is a glamour fashion session – we want your photos to be a true reflection of you. If you want to wear a dress or anything “flowing” make sure to introduce it to your horse before the photo session. I have seen the calmest horses spook and get stressed at smaller things new to them. Speaking of dresses: if your outfit includes open toed shoes have someone else with you to handle the horse for safety reasons. A horse experienced helper in general makes everything easier if you want to be in the pictures. During fly season don’t forget to have plenty of bug repellent for yourself at hand.

And a little but important tip at the end:

Even if you don’t plan to be in any pictures, you might end up in one or two. Might! Those unplanned “Captures-of-a-Moment” when you are interacting with your horse to adjust the bridle or straighten the forelock and such are sometimes among the most treasured pictures of you and your horse. For example: The image below was taken just AFTER the session, the horse owner never intended to be in any photo. And for that reason, you might want to consider choosing something nice to wear and make sure your hair is photo-ready too - just in case!

Planning makes perfect! A few small steps before your session can turn a good shoot into an unforgettable one - for you and your horse. From clean tack to tidy hair (yes, yours too), a little prep helps to capture those special moments.

Ready to create some beautiful portraits of your horse? Gundi Manteufel-Grajciar is a national accredited photographer by the PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada), specialized in Equine and Canine Photography in Grunthal, Manitoba.

Contact Pictured by GMG and book your very own Equine Photo Session today!